Charles Henry Appleton
Group Captain · 24139 · United Kingdom
- Died
- 12 August 1944, aged 38
- Fate
- Killed in action
Biography
Charles Henry Appleton was born in 1906 at Ballincollig, Ireland, and was educated at Malvern and Marlborough College before being granted a short service commission in the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer in September 1927; by the outbreak of war he was a squadron leader resident in Marandellas, Southern Rhodesia. He commanded No. 77 (Bomber) Squadron at the start of hostilities, and in February 1941 took over No. 604 Squadron, a Beaufighter night-fighter unit operating from Tangmere; under his leadership the squadron destroyed a large number of enemy aircraft at night, an achievement for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette, 5 August 1941), having earlier received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his sustained operational flying and personal example. He went on to lead No. 322 Wing and was Mentioned in Despatches twice, was appointed CBE in 1943, and held the Czechoslovak Military Cross. Late in July 1944 he arrived in Normandy to command No. 124 Wing, a Hawker Typhoon formation. On 12 August 1944, making up the numbers on a No. 247 Squadron operation that was one aircraft short, he flew Typhoon MN928 and was shot down by anti-aircraft fire near Flers; he was 38. Group Captain Appleton is buried in Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery, Calvados, France (grave IV. C. 14).
Last updated 4 June 2026.
Burial / commemoration
- Cemetery
- Banneville-la-campagne War Cemetery, France
Operations on this date. 3 raids in this archive were flown on the night of 12 August 1944: Givors · Rüsselsheim · For. (Cross-reference by date — not in itself confirmation this airman flew it.)
Timeline
-
9 July 1940
Gazetted: DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross -
5 August 1941
Gazetted: DSO
Distinguished Service Order -
12 August 1944
Died
aged 38
Awards
-
Distinguished Service Order (DSO) — gazetted 5 August 1941
This officer has commanded the squadron since February, 1941, and by his sound organisation, drive, energy, and high skill in flying has enabled it to attain a splendid record in night fighting. Whilst under his inspiringleadership, the squadron has destroyed at least 45 enemy aircraft at night and damaged many others.. He has personally -destroyed two and damaged two enemy aircraft. Wing Commander John Ralph Alexander PEEL, D.F.C.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) — gazetted 9 July 1940